Monthly Budget: Definition, Examples & Tips

Meaning 1：monthly spending plan (monthly budget)

monthly budget 🔊

/ˈmʌnθli ˈbʌdʒɪt/

A plan for how much money you will earn and spend over one month.

Monthly budget plan with calculator and pie chart

monthly spending plan 🔊

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/ˈmʌnθli ˈspɛndɪŋ plæn/

A predetermined plan for income and expenses over a one-month period, used to control spending and save money.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Monthly from 'month' + '-ly' (adj suffix); Budget from French 'bougette' (small bag for money).

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'Monthly Budget' = A monthly bag (budget) where you put your money plans.

📖 Example

I use a budgeting app to track my spending and make sure I don't exceed my monthly budget for eating out. 🔊 I use a budgeting app to track my spending and make sure I don't exceed my monthly budget for eating out.

🔗 Collocations

set a monthly budget – create a monthly financial plan

stick to your monthly budget – follow your monthly financial plan closely

exceed the monthly budget – spend more than the planned amount

🔄 Synonyms

monthly allowance (n.) – A fixed amount of money given each month for expenses.

monthly spending limit (n.) – The maximum amount allowed to spend in a month.

budget plan (n.) – A detailed plan for income and expenditure.

🚫 Antonyms

annual budget (n.) – A financial plan for a whole year.

unlimited spending (n.) – No fixed limit on expenditure.

🌱 Derivatives

budgeting (n.) – The process of creating a budget.

budgetary (adj.) – Relating to a budget.

budgeter (n.) – A person who creates or manages a budget.

📖 Cultural Story

Originally, 'budget' meant a leather bag. In the 18th century, the British Chancellor carried a budget to present financial plans to Parliament. Over time, it came to mean a personal or household financial plan.